source: Farm and Food Report
Yellowfeed is the name given for a new alternative method of harvesting an annual cereal crop for hay that is showing some promise, according to Lorne Klein, a Forage Development Specialist with SAFRR.
“The traditional method of harvesting annual cereals for hay or greenfeed is to cut and crimp the crop at the milk-soft dough stage, and allow the material to dry in the windrow before baling. With yellowfeed, glyphosate is applied at the milk-soft dough stage and the crop is then allowed to stand until dry. Once dry, the crop can be cut and baled immediately.”
There are a number of advantages to yellowfeed over greenfeed. For instance, there is no weathering loss should it rain while the crop is drying in the windrow, and no need to turn the windrow after a rain.
In addition, producers can schedule their harvest, much like they do with silage. Plus, it offers perennial weed control, and the crop can be cut with a swather rather than a haybine.
There are a couple of significant disadvantages, however, with the yellowfeed method. Producers require access to a high clearance sprayer and they need to factor in the cost of the glyphosate and the lack of re-growth for fall grazing.
Klein explains what methodology was used during yellowfeed trials:
“During the period between 2001 and 2003, forage samples of oats and barley were collected to determine the effect of glyphosate on yield and quality. These were monitored from the time of spraying until seven to 10 days past the point of being dry enough to cut and bale. The rate of glyphosate was one litre/acre.”
Findings indicate that yellowfeed appears to be a viable option for drying annual cereals prior to baling; that application of glyphosate does not significantly reduce forage yield or quality — in fact, forage yield increases initially after spraying, likely due to the crop continuing to grow for a period of time after spraying.
“There is an initial decline in the percentage of protein after spraying,” says Klein, “possibly due to dilution from increased yield or the normal decrease in protein level from later maturity, but the overall total digestible nutrients (TDN), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) remained constant.”
Glyphosate products currently registered for pre-harvest use on livestock forage are Credit, Maverick, Vantage, Vantage Plus, Renegade and Roundup.
“After glyphosate is applied, barley dries about four to seven days sooner than oats. Barley stands well after spraying, but the heads tend to curl over close to the soil surface after it has dried. Oats tend to lay over horizontally at a height of about 12 to 18 inches. This does not interfere with cutting because the swather's cutter bar can be set below this height. The leaves and kernels of both crops remain attached, even after the crop is left standing seven to 10 days after drying.”
Palatability of yellowfeed is reported as good. Most producers believe the palatability of yellowfeed is equal to or greater than regular greenfeed.
The trials suggest that economics of yellowfeed should be studied further in terms of expected changes in forage yield and quality from spraying to harvest; cost of herbicide and application; cost of swathing compared to crimping; and also in terms of the potential benefit of perennial weed control.
Lorne Klein is of the opinion that “a comparison of the value of yellowfeed and greenfeed could change from year to year, based on weather conditions after spraying and cutting.” But, he adds that “greenfeed harvest and forage quality losses can be relatively high in years when there is significant rainfall after cutting … something that appears to be avoided with yellowfeed,” he concludes.
For more information, contact:
Lorne Klein
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 848-2382
Agriculture Knowledge Centre
1-866-457-2377
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Conference to Provide Insight into Agricultural Opportunities
source: Farm and Food Report
All eyes in the Southwest will soon focus on Eastend, as a fine line-up of leaders and facilitators will share their knowledge at the Managing Through Change Agricultural Development Conference at Eastend’s Memorial Hall on March 2, 2005.
SAFRR’s Trevor Lennox is a Forage Development Specialist and one of the conference organizers.
“This event is geared towards primary producers and agri-entrepreneurs,” Lennox says. “They will find in our presenters and the business experiences they will share some wisdom, as well as useful tools that will help them identify opportunities and means to integrate a value-added dimension to their agricultural endeavours.”
The conference will include a report from the Agri-ARM (Applied Research Management) project on cropping opportunities for southwest Saskatchewan, through applications of new technologies for the grain industry, with Jody McConnell from SAFRR.
Later, Con Johnson, the Chair of Great Western Railway Ltd., will share some of the challenges he and his partners faced when they raised capital for their short line rail project.
Jody Fennell and Don Declercq of Pine Cree Cattle Company will speak about developments on their proposed feedlot initiative over the last year, after which Jack Salmon of Cypress Agri-Energy will bring participants up to date on the ethanol plant they propose to start building in the area.
John Parker of the Southwest Community Futures Development Corporation will make a presentation titled Financing for Value-Added Operations: how to access the latest information on government programs and services, with a view to getting projects off the ground
Lindsay Routledge of Canfax, an organization that keeps statistics on cattle markets and inventories, will follow with an update and outlook. Routledge will comment on potential BSE strategies and opportunities for producers, as we anticipate the border re-opening to live cattle on March 7, 2005.
As change, planning, evaluating and management skills are becoming increasingly important in agricultural activities, Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote — the Outstanding Young Farmer of Canada in 2001 — will give “farm-style” tips on making good decisions and processes to help make farms and businesses successful.
Last but not least, the legendary Red Williams of Saskatchewan Agri-Vision Inc. will share his perspective on the outlook and future opportunities in the beef sector.
“Mr. Williams is quite looking forward to his visit,” explains Lennox. “This whole day is a chance to look ahead for agricultural operations and associated businesses, at a time when challenges abound. But there are also some successes and inspiring stories as well. We are simply providing a forum where these stories can be told, along with providing useful information.”
The co-sponsors for this event include the South West Community Futures Corporation, Cypress Hills REDA, AIMS, Western Economic Diversification, AAFC Renewal Programs, and SAFRR.
Registration deadline is February 28; it costs $10 and includes lunch. For more information and to register, call (306) 778-8285 or 662-4299.
For more information, contact:
Trevor Lennox
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-4051
All eyes in the Southwest will soon focus on Eastend, as a fine line-up of leaders and facilitators will share their knowledge at the Managing Through Change Agricultural Development Conference at Eastend’s Memorial Hall on March 2, 2005.
SAFRR’s Trevor Lennox is a Forage Development Specialist and one of the conference organizers.
“This event is geared towards primary producers and agri-entrepreneurs,” Lennox says. “They will find in our presenters and the business experiences they will share some wisdom, as well as useful tools that will help them identify opportunities and means to integrate a value-added dimension to their agricultural endeavours.”
The conference will include a report from the Agri-ARM (Applied Research Management) project on cropping opportunities for southwest Saskatchewan, through applications of new technologies for the grain industry, with Jody McConnell from SAFRR.
Later, Con Johnson, the Chair of Great Western Railway Ltd., will share some of the challenges he and his partners faced when they raised capital for their short line rail project.
Jody Fennell and Don Declercq of Pine Cree Cattle Company will speak about developments on their proposed feedlot initiative over the last year, after which Jack Salmon of Cypress Agri-Energy will bring participants up to date on the ethanol plant they propose to start building in the area.
John Parker of the Southwest Community Futures Development Corporation will make a presentation titled Financing for Value-Added Operations: how to access the latest information on government programs and services, with a view to getting projects off the ground
Lindsay Routledge of Canfax, an organization that keeps statistics on cattle markets and inventories, will follow with an update and outlook. Routledge will comment on potential BSE strategies and opportunities for producers, as we anticipate the border re-opening to live cattle on March 7, 2005.
As change, planning, evaluating and management skills are becoming increasingly important in agricultural activities, Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote — the Outstanding Young Farmer of Canada in 2001 — will give “farm-style” tips on making good decisions and processes to help make farms and businesses successful.
Last but not least, the legendary Red Williams of Saskatchewan Agri-Vision Inc. will share his perspective on the outlook and future opportunities in the beef sector.
“Mr. Williams is quite looking forward to his visit,” explains Lennox. “This whole day is a chance to look ahead for agricultural operations and associated businesses, at a time when challenges abound. But there are also some successes and inspiring stories as well. We are simply providing a forum where these stories can be told, along with providing useful information.”
The co-sponsors for this event include the South West Community Futures Corporation, Cypress Hills REDA, AIMS, Western Economic Diversification, AAFC Renewal Programs, and SAFRR.
Registration deadline is February 28; it costs $10 and includes lunch. For more information and to register, call (306) 778-8285 or 662-4299.
For more information, contact:
Trevor Lennox
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-4051
Organic Producers' Network Grows with each Update
source: Farm and Food Report
The future looks as promising as it ever has for organic producers, which could partly account for the success of the first two editions of the Organic Update. But this year’s offering, scheduled to take place at the Prairie Ursuline Centre in Bruno on February 22 and 23, has something special cooking in the oven — so to speak.
Don Perrault is an Agri-Business Development Specialist with SAFRR in Prince Albert:
“We have gradually been building a network of growers and organic agri-entrepreneurs with obviously common interests over the years. And this year, we are testing the waters to find out if there is enough interest among them to use the Prairie Ursuline Centre as a long-term use organic education centre.”
Building capacity and making more training available within the industry seems increasingly to gain favour as a priority among industry stakeholders. Judging by the 100 or so Organic Update participants who braved a blizzard last year to attend the event in Melfort, the interest appears to be there.
The Organic Update combines a first day of general and technical information on topics like organic standards, soil ecology, how to prepare for crop inspections, Agricultural Policy Framework renewal programs, and a basic orientation on marketing for new growers or marketers. A trade show, organized in tandem with the meetings, adds a further dimension to the event.
“This year, for the first time, we are also planning to have a fully organic supper at the end of day one,” adds Perrault. “For this meal, we seek out local ingredients as much as possible. It gets everyone in a fine mood for the following bear pit session. But the second day is seriously geared toward marketing, with more in-depth sessions. Let’s face it: making it as an organic producer often hinges on how expert you are at marketing your products.”
As more and more conventional producers look for alternatives, organics look very attractive. With markets that grow on average 15 to 20 per cent a year, organic producers are doing reasonably well when compared to others.
“This is a fairly young industry,”explains Perrault, “with lots of opportunities in terms of retail sales, and the cost of entering new markets is not as high as in other more established markets. This is why the industry is attractive, and why there is a need for more education and marketing skills training.”
Something the Organic Update addresses with program topics like the Theory of Marketing presentation by University of Saskatchewan Agricultural Economics Professor Tom Porter.
Lawyer Craig Zawada will tell producers what they need to know about production contracts in another session.
Later, Melanie Boldt of Pineview Farms in Osler — a 2004 Outstanding Young Farmer — will talk about marketing one’s farm in today’s economy.
Ian Cushon, an organic producer from Oxbow, will make a presentation on developing a market plan for grain commodities, and Glen Millard, a specialist on international finance and logistics with the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, will talk about risk management and export marketing.
Getting paid for your crop is very important, but learning how to open new markets and tapping into them is just as crucial to being successful. That is what Organic Update 2005 is all about.
For more information, contact:
Don Perrault
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 953-2361
Leroy Bader
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 878-8841
The future looks as promising as it ever has for organic producers, which could partly account for the success of the first two editions of the Organic Update. But this year’s offering, scheduled to take place at the Prairie Ursuline Centre in Bruno on February 22 and 23, has something special cooking in the oven — so to speak.
Don Perrault is an Agri-Business Development Specialist with SAFRR in Prince Albert:
“We have gradually been building a network of growers and organic agri-entrepreneurs with obviously common interests over the years. And this year, we are testing the waters to find out if there is enough interest among them to use the Prairie Ursuline Centre as a long-term use organic education centre.”
Building capacity and making more training available within the industry seems increasingly to gain favour as a priority among industry stakeholders. Judging by the 100 or so Organic Update participants who braved a blizzard last year to attend the event in Melfort, the interest appears to be there.
The Organic Update combines a first day of general and technical information on topics like organic standards, soil ecology, how to prepare for crop inspections, Agricultural Policy Framework renewal programs, and a basic orientation on marketing for new growers or marketers. A trade show, organized in tandem with the meetings, adds a further dimension to the event.
“This year, for the first time, we are also planning to have a fully organic supper at the end of day one,” adds Perrault. “For this meal, we seek out local ingredients as much as possible. It gets everyone in a fine mood for the following bear pit session. But the second day is seriously geared toward marketing, with more in-depth sessions. Let’s face it: making it as an organic producer often hinges on how expert you are at marketing your products.”
As more and more conventional producers look for alternatives, organics look very attractive. With markets that grow on average 15 to 20 per cent a year, organic producers are doing reasonably well when compared to others.
“This is a fairly young industry,”explains Perrault, “with lots of opportunities in terms of retail sales, and the cost of entering new markets is not as high as in other more established markets. This is why the industry is attractive, and why there is a need for more education and marketing skills training.”
Something the Organic Update addresses with program topics like the Theory of Marketing presentation by University of Saskatchewan Agricultural Economics Professor Tom Porter.
Lawyer Craig Zawada will tell producers what they need to know about production contracts in another session.
Later, Melanie Boldt of Pineview Farms in Osler — a 2004 Outstanding Young Farmer — will talk about marketing one’s farm in today’s economy.
Ian Cushon, an organic producer from Oxbow, will make a presentation on developing a market plan for grain commodities, and Glen Millard, a specialist on international finance and logistics with the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, will talk about risk management and export marketing.
Getting paid for your crop is very important, but learning how to open new markets and tapping into them is just as crucial to being successful. That is what Organic Update 2005 is all about.
For more information, contact:
Don Perrault
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 953-2361
Leroy Bader
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 878-8841
Provincial Herb and Spice Association Aims for New Markets
source: Farm and Food Report
Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association members may be the most diverse group of producers and agricultural manufacturers in the province, but that’s nothing compared to the range of commercial applications they seek for their crops and products.
Connie Kehler is Executive Director of the Association.
“Herbs and spices are a bit of a misnomer because we also cover non-timber crops that end up as ornamental products. This is an industry association that encompasses culinary herbs and spices, as well as functional foods, right from the field all the way up to the shelf.”
Functional foods are foods eaten for specified health purposes, because of their presumed rich content of one or more nutrients or non-nutrient substances that might confer health benefits. The International Food Information Council (IFIC) defines them “as foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.”
Kelher explains: “We have all heard of how cranberry juice is good for your urinary tract and how it lowers cholesterol. Well, there are many herbs we grow whose potential health applications haven’t been explored yet. For instance, there is a form of mould in northern Saskatchewan that is harvested from birch trees and sold in some countries as a raw material used in the preparation of cancer medicines. In other instances, we may even import the material for local processing.”
The Association is interested, not only in exporting the raw materials, but also in local transformation — something that requires a more intimate grasp of value chain components. This need was recently addressed at the 2005 Annual Conference in Saskatoon, when a representative of Calgary-based CV Technologies Inc. was invited to share some of their accomplishments with participants.
“This is a firm that has taken ginseng out of its traditional paradigm,” explains Kehler. “The company used some very good science to back up the traditional evidence in terms of using it for colds and flus, in conjunction with some traditional medical work, and is doing a phenomenal job of marketing that product — $11 million in sales during the last quarter doesn’t hurt.”
The biotechnology company launched in 1992 accessed industrial research funds from the National Research Council and aims to become a global leader in the development and commercialization of safe and effective, evidence-based natural therapeutics for disease prevention and health maintenance.
“In order to achieve that kind of success, you have to be a very special person or group of individuals. You must understand how to study the market — CV Technologies has recruited hockey personality Don Cherry to promote its Cold-FX product — in order to hit the right market. For success to occur while developing new markets and applications, producers must maintain all kinds of linkages in the value chain. They have to target areas where small niches exist and understand who their marketers are. Planning is critical.”
Connie Kehler puts her finger right on it when she says: “When growers put a crop in the ground, they should have a pretty good idea of where the product will end up. If someone calls us three years later and asks: ‘what do I do with this now?,’ it’s a little late in the game.”
For more information, contact:
Connie Kehler
Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association
(306) 694-4622
http://www.saskherbspice.org
Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association members may be the most diverse group of producers and agricultural manufacturers in the province, but that’s nothing compared to the range of commercial applications they seek for their crops and products.
Connie Kehler is Executive Director of the Association.
“Herbs and spices are a bit of a misnomer because we also cover non-timber crops that end up as ornamental products. This is an industry association that encompasses culinary herbs and spices, as well as functional foods, right from the field all the way up to the shelf.”
Functional foods are foods eaten for specified health purposes, because of their presumed rich content of one or more nutrients or non-nutrient substances that might confer health benefits. The International Food Information Council (IFIC) defines them “as foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.”
Kelher explains: “We have all heard of how cranberry juice is good for your urinary tract and how it lowers cholesterol. Well, there are many herbs we grow whose potential health applications haven’t been explored yet. For instance, there is a form of mould in northern Saskatchewan that is harvested from birch trees and sold in some countries as a raw material used in the preparation of cancer medicines. In other instances, we may even import the material for local processing.”
The Association is interested, not only in exporting the raw materials, but also in local transformation — something that requires a more intimate grasp of value chain components. This need was recently addressed at the 2005 Annual Conference in Saskatoon, when a representative of Calgary-based CV Technologies Inc. was invited to share some of their accomplishments with participants.
“This is a firm that has taken ginseng out of its traditional paradigm,” explains Kehler. “The company used some very good science to back up the traditional evidence in terms of using it for colds and flus, in conjunction with some traditional medical work, and is doing a phenomenal job of marketing that product — $11 million in sales during the last quarter doesn’t hurt.”
The biotechnology company launched in 1992 accessed industrial research funds from the National Research Council and aims to become a global leader in the development and commercialization of safe and effective, evidence-based natural therapeutics for disease prevention and health maintenance.
“In order to achieve that kind of success, you have to be a very special person or group of individuals. You must understand how to study the market — CV Technologies has recruited hockey personality Don Cherry to promote its Cold-FX product — in order to hit the right market. For success to occur while developing new markets and applications, producers must maintain all kinds of linkages in the value chain. They have to target areas where small niches exist and understand who their marketers are. Planning is critical.”
Connie Kehler puts her finger right on it when she says: “When growers put a crop in the ground, they should have a pretty good idea of where the product will end up. If someone calls us three years later and asks: ‘what do I do with this now?,’ it’s a little late in the game.”
For more information, contact:
Connie Kehler
Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association
(306) 694-4622
http://www.saskherbspice.org
Saturday, February 19, 2005
On Farming in a World Where the Consumer is King
source: Farm and Food Report
A few minutes of conversation with Andrew Benson, VP of International Relations at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), is enough to convince you that agricultural producers are on the brink of a new revolution — one hinging on emerging opportunities made possible because of world consumer needs.
“Consumers are everybody’s ultimate customer,” Benson says. “Whether you are a seed supplier, a crop grower, a crop processor, a food manufacturer, a food retailer or a vendor — in the end, everybody serves a consumer. Therefore, it is very important to lend an ear to what consumers are looking for now and the trends that are impacting their purchasing behaviours over time.”
Benson’s Washington, D.C.-based organization carries out studies and research around issues such as consumer confidence in the food supply, as well as the distribution of information around nutrition and other areas.
“What we would do is go and talk to the public informally — either one-on-one or in small focus groups — and then, do the same substantially and quantitatively. We actually carry out surveys of large segments of the population, which gives us a really accurate read of what the public is thinking on particular issues — what their questions and concerns really are.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, the portrait of consumers today that emerges is dominated by a very startling observation. That is the rapid increase in rates of obesity that is occurring in developed countries and, to some extent, in developing countries as well, according to Benson.
“The challenge our research reveals — and that a lot of consumers are struggling with — is how to balance the pressures and demands of a very busy lifestyle: decreased opportunities for physical activities, less walking around getting to the job, more driving, more sitting at the office or on airplanes, and more pressures on consumers from the point of view of the need for convenience foods. Overall, this has had a very measurable effect on waistlines.”
One might ask why this should concern producers. Andrew Benson has this to say:
“Consumers are looking for help. They are trying to eat foods and drink beverages they enjoy, but that also fit their lifestyle. Truly, they want to modify their overall diet so that they don’t continuously face the issue of putting on more and more weight. I think the more successfully producers can help consumers do that, the more they can enhance their potential for providing products that consumers want.”
He suggests that producers familiarize themselves with tools like Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating or the newly released New Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, which reflect many of the objectives that consumers are trying to achieve themselves in terms of reducing their fat intake.
“They seek the right balance between fats and carbohydrates, while integrating a little more physical activity into their daily routines. Now, if the food you produce has an advantage which is beneficial to a consumer, then obviously the idea is to get the word out there.”
But Benson also cautions producers to be careful about how or why they communicate to the public, for information is a double-edged sword.
“Consumer confidence is very good and very high in both the U.S. and Canada, because people take the time to tell the public what is happening. If you look at surveys of U.S. opinion, 80 per cent of consumers think the food is safe and well looked-after by our regulators. But in other parts of the world — particularly a few years ago in Europe, where confidence kind of hit rock bottom after a series of food scandals over there – it is not always so. Consumer confidence can also erode quickly.”
His advice is, when you have a good, safe food supply, it is important to pay attention to the messages consumers are exposed to as much as possible.
“Nobody can be the ultimate source of information for everybody in the food chain. If you try to do that, you will fail. I don’t think the public expects that, either. For them to know about food, nutrition, health and food safety, the whole food chain needs to communicate: nutritionists, dieticians, politicians, farmers, agronomists, scientists and the media.”
In the new world of food production, the consumer is both king and kingmaker.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Benson
International Food Information Council
(202) 296-6540
http://www.ific.org/
Revision of Canada’s Food Guide for Healthy Living
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/onpp-bppn/revision_food_guide_e.html
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/
A few minutes of conversation with Andrew Benson, VP of International Relations at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), is enough to convince you that agricultural producers are on the brink of a new revolution — one hinging on emerging opportunities made possible because of world consumer needs.
“Consumers are everybody’s ultimate customer,” Benson says. “Whether you are a seed supplier, a crop grower, a crop processor, a food manufacturer, a food retailer or a vendor — in the end, everybody serves a consumer. Therefore, it is very important to lend an ear to what consumers are looking for now and the trends that are impacting their purchasing behaviours over time.”
Benson’s Washington, D.C.-based organization carries out studies and research around issues such as consumer confidence in the food supply, as well as the distribution of information around nutrition and other areas.
“What we would do is go and talk to the public informally — either one-on-one or in small focus groups — and then, do the same substantially and quantitatively. We actually carry out surveys of large segments of the population, which gives us a really accurate read of what the public is thinking on particular issues — what their questions and concerns really are.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, the portrait of consumers today that emerges is dominated by a very startling observation. That is the rapid increase in rates of obesity that is occurring in developed countries and, to some extent, in developing countries as well, according to Benson.
“The challenge our research reveals — and that a lot of consumers are struggling with — is how to balance the pressures and demands of a very busy lifestyle: decreased opportunities for physical activities, less walking around getting to the job, more driving, more sitting at the office or on airplanes, and more pressures on consumers from the point of view of the need for convenience foods. Overall, this has had a very measurable effect on waistlines.”
One might ask why this should concern producers. Andrew Benson has this to say:
“Consumers are looking for help. They are trying to eat foods and drink beverages they enjoy, but that also fit their lifestyle. Truly, they want to modify their overall diet so that they don’t continuously face the issue of putting on more and more weight. I think the more successfully producers can help consumers do that, the more they can enhance their potential for providing products that consumers want.”
He suggests that producers familiarize themselves with tools like Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating or the newly released New Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, which reflect many of the objectives that consumers are trying to achieve themselves in terms of reducing their fat intake.
“They seek the right balance between fats and carbohydrates, while integrating a little more physical activity into their daily routines. Now, if the food you produce has an advantage which is beneficial to a consumer, then obviously the idea is to get the word out there.”
But Benson also cautions producers to be careful about how or why they communicate to the public, for information is a double-edged sword.
“Consumer confidence is very good and very high in both the U.S. and Canada, because people take the time to tell the public what is happening. If you look at surveys of U.S. opinion, 80 per cent of consumers think the food is safe and well looked-after by our regulators. But in other parts of the world — particularly a few years ago in Europe, where confidence kind of hit rock bottom after a series of food scandals over there – it is not always so. Consumer confidence can also erode quickly.”
His advice is, when you have a good, safe food supply, it is important to pay attention to the messages consumers are exposed to as much as possible.
“Nobody can be the ultimate source of information for everybody in the food chain. If you try to do that, you will fail. I don’t think the public expects that, either. For them to know about food, nutrition, health and food safety, the whole food chain needs to communicate: nutritionists, dieticians, politicians, farmers, agronomists, scientists and the media.”
In the new world of food production, the consumer is both king and kingmaker.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Benson
International Food Information Council
(202) 296-6540
http://www.ific.org/
Revision of Canada’s Food Guide for Healthy Living
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/onpp-bppn/revision_food_guide_e.html
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/
Managing Client Relations in Competitive Environment
source: Farm and Food Report
In times of increased international competition, the ability to massage the relationship with clients is more important than ever. That is certainly true of what is happening in canola industry.
Barbara Isman is President of the Canola Council of Canada.
“The big challenge we are facing is the dramatic increase in the production of soya beans in South America. Although canola has properties that make it attractive — low saturated fat and higher oil content — this massive increase has driven prices down overall. We, as a developed nation with a relatively high cost structure, are finding it difficult to produce at the price soya bean markets are forcing us to produce.”
As a result, explains Isman, “we have increased the amount of time and effort we are putting into maintaining the relationships we have with our customers. Does it get you more money in the market? No. But does it — all things being equal — get you sales? Yes. When all the competitor commodities are so aggressive, it is a must.”
During the last few months, the Council and industry members who market canola have hit the road to address the challenges at hand. With the amount of frost-damaged canola that costs more to process, producers still manage to fetch a premium for canola, an achievement Isman attributes to what canola producers and marketers have learned over time about their clients’ needs and business approaches.
“Our Japanese customers have been extremely loyal, and that is terribly important as they are our primary customer. In return for that loyalty, they expect to be kept fully informed about all activities pertaining to the Canadian industry on a regular basis. This means staying in touch with the Japanese trade associations and also nurturing that customer-supplier relationship daily. You can never over-communicate with the Japanese market.”
Isman estimates that about half of the Canola Council’s time is spent making sure that the Japanese are being given the information just as quickly as it is accessed. To maintain that kind of intense relationship would likely be even more demanding if customers there did not move as a group, as in the case of Mexican customers, says Isman.
“Mexican crushers seem to be very individualistic and need individual attention. They don’t sit in a room and talk about group issues. Increasingly, they view canola as an attractive, differentiated product, but we must work with them one-on-one.”
In her experience, investing in a good interpreter is often well worth the price. “They will tell you very quietly if your approach is a little bit off in terms of cultural practices. And sometimes they will fix up what you said.”
Every society has its business traditions, and the more you know how people do business in your international markets, the better chances are to close a deal. Isman admits she is particularly impressed with the Chinese approach.
“They love business. They love the deal. I met more billionaires per square foot in China than I ever have in my entire life when we went at the end of September. I shared with our hosts how brave they were to move so quickly in the face of such political and economic change as they face daily. But they just thrive on it. One host explained to me, ‘you North Americans like to take holidays and relax. In China, our fun is business.’”
Without this openness to different practices, doing business would be a whole lot more difficult, according to Isman.
“We start with the premise that we don’t export Canadian values when we establish contact, except for one: respect. We need to respect the culture and the people who are buying our product. We are also fortunate enough to have companies that are selling Canadian canola who have representatives on the ground. We also work closely with our embassies abroad, and we use the good old Internet to maintain contact.”
And canola producers have high hopes that new markets and market segments that are canola-specific will be identified. Isman would love to generate a new lasting demand that could help insulate Canadian producers, to a certain extent, by attracting a premium.
“We used to be the only kid on the block when it came to canola, but now Australia has a canola industry; Europe has a huge rapeseed crop and they are actually exporting — so we don’t have just South America to worry about. It is a new world out there and we have to act accordingly.”
Isman believes there is a place in the world for Canadian canola. The entire industry is working on making sure new opportunities are seized as they emerge.
For more information, contact:
Barbara Isman
Canola Council of Canada
(204) 982-2100
http://www.canola-council.org
In times of increased international competition, the ability to massage the relationship with clients is more important than ever. That is certainly true of what is happening in canola industry.
Barbara Isman is President of the Canola Council of Canada.
“The big challenge we are facing is the dramatic increase in the production of soya beans in South America. Although canola has properties that make it attractive — low saturated fat and higher oil content — this massive increase has driven prices down overall. We, as a developed nation with a relatively high cost structure, are finding it difficult to produce at the price soya bean markets are forcing us to produce.”
As a result, explains Isman, “we have increased the amount of time and effort we are putting into maintaining the relationships we have with our customers. Does it get you more money in the market? No. But does it — all things being equal — get you sales? Yes. When all the competitor commodities are so aggressive, it is a must.”
During the last few months, the Council and industry members who market canola have hit the road to address the challenges at hand. With the amount of frost-damaged canola that costs more to process, producers still manage to fetch a premium for canola, an achievement Isman attributes to what canola producers and marketers have learned over time about their clients’ needs and business approaches.
“Our Japanese customers have been extremely loyal, and that is terribly important as they are our primary customer. In return for that loyalty, they expect to be kept fully informed about all activities pertaining to the Canadian industry on a regular basis. This means staying in touch with the Japanese trade associations and also nurturing that customer-supplier relationship daily. You can never over-communicate with the Japanese market.”
Isman estimates that about half of the Canola Council’s time is spent making sure that the Japanese are being given the information just as quickly as it is accessed. To maintain that kind of intense relationship would likely be even more demanding if customers there did not move as a group, as in the case of Mexican customers, says Isman.
“Mexican crushers seem to be very individualistic and need individual attention. They don’t sit in a room and talk about group issues. Increasingly, they view canola as an attractive, differentiated product, but we must work with them one-on-one.”
In her experience, investing in a good interpreter is often well worth the price. “They will tell you very quietly if your approach is a little bit off in terms of cultural practices. And sometimes they will fix up what you said.”
Every society has its business traditions, and the more you know how people do business in your international markets, the better chances are to close a deal. Isman admits she is particularly impressed with the Chinese approach.
“They love business. They love the deal. I met more billionaires per square foot in China than I ever have in my entire life when we went at the end of September. I shared with our hosts how brave they were to move so quickly in the face of such political and economic change as they face daily. But they just thrive on it. One host explained to me, ‘you North Americans like to take holidays and relax. In China, our fun is business.’”
Without this openness to different practices, doing business would be a whole lot more difficult, according to Isman.
“We start with the premise that we don’t export Canadian values when we establish contact, except for one: respect. We need to respect the culture and the people who are buying our product. We are also fortunate enough to have companies that are selling Canadian canola who have representatives on the ground. We also work closely with our embassies abroad, and we use the good old Internet to maintain contact.”
And canola producers have high hopes that new markets and market segments that are canola-specific will be identified. Isman would love to generate a new lasting demand that could help insulate Canadian producers, to a certain extent, by attracting a premium.
“We used to be the only kid on the block when it came to canola, but now Australia has a canola industry; Europe has a huge rapeseed crop and they are actually exporting — so we don’t have just South America to worry about. It is a new world out there and we have to act accordingly.”
Isman believes there is a place in the world for Canadian canola. The entire industry is working on making sure new opportunities are seized as they emerge.
For more information, contact:
Barbara Isman
Canola Council of Canada
(204) 982-2100
http://www.canola-council.org
No Need to Pay for What is Free
source: Farm and Food Report
Every year, farm and ranch families receive letters or see advertising that encourages them to acquire privately published catalogues or directories that list grants, programs and services offered by federal and provincial governments.
These privately compiled and published directories and catalogues have a price tag attached.
However, the same information about federal and provincial government programs is available free of charge through existing toll-free telephone lines and publicly accessible websites.
There is no need to pay for the information, says Ken Imhoff, Manager of the Farm Stress Unit of Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization.
Imhoff says an example of a directory that can be accessed free of charge is the Connections Services Directory, a computer-based, on-line directory of programs and services designed specifically for farm and rural people in Saskatchewan.
This electronic directory provides not only current provincial and federal information, but also information on community-based organizations and their programs and services. Informed decisions can be made on the most appropriate service to access, whether that be business development, financial, legal, education, farm safety or personal and family services. Since the CONNECTIONS Services Directory was developed to serve rural Saskatchewan, descriptions of services include information on any grants or funding assistance currently available to farmers, ranchers and rural people in general.
The programs and services offered through the Connections Service Directory can be explored and discussed with staff by calling, toll-free, 1-866-680-0006 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Through discussion to gain an understanding of their needs and interests, CONNECTIONS staff will identify current programs and services that most closely match the need. Staff, in doing so, will provide a brief description of the program or services for which the person may qualify.
The directory can also be accessed through the website: www.agr.gov.sk.ca/connections. Internet service is also available through the public library system.
The federal government offers words of caution to farmers who may be invited to buy information about government programs and services. “There's no need to pay for information that's freely available,” says Ellen Funk, a spokesperson for farm financial programs at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Winnipeg offices.
"We've received calls here from farmers and farm organizations, who are concerned because there are a number of private sector companies that are soliciting farmers and inviting them to pay money to get information on government programs and services," Funk said. "We're concerned about that because all of that information is available for free. Farmers don't have to pay money to get information on government programs -federal or provincial - or to apply for programs.
“So, we want to get the message out to producers: beware of websites and mailings and other promotional items that ask you to pay money to get information on farm support programs or other programs available for farmers, because all of that information is available to you, for free, from federal and provincial offices.”
Funk says a good clearinghouse for information is the federal government's toll-free information line, 1-800-O Canada (1-800-622-6232), or the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website at www.agr.gc.ca.
Addresses of federal government programs and services are available on the Government of Canada website.
For more information on Saskatchewan services, call CONNECTIONS toll-free at 1-866-680-0006.
For more information, contact:
Ken Imhoff
Farm Stress Line
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-5196
Ellen Funk
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(204) 984-5751
Every year, farm and ranch families receive letters or see advertising that encourages them to acquire privately published catalogues or directories that list grants, programs and services offered by federal and provincial governments.
These privately compiled and published directories and catalogues have a price tag attached.
However, the same information about federal and provincial government programs is available free of charge through existing toll-free telephone lines and publicly accessible websites.
There is no need to pay for the information, says Ken Imhoff, Manager of the Farm Stress Unit of Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization.
Imhoff says an example of a directory that can be accessed free of charge is the Connections Services Directory, a computer-based, on-line directory of programs and services designed specifically for farm and rural people in Saskatchewan.
This electronic directory provides not only current provincial and federal information, but also information on community-based organizations and their programs and services. Informed decisions can be made on the most appropriate service to access, whether that be business development, financial, legal, education, farm safety or personal and family services. Since the CONNECTIONS Services Directory was developed to serve rural Saskatchewan, descriptions of services include information on any grants or funding assistance currently available to farmers, ranchers and rural people in general.
The programs and services offered through the Connections Service Directory can be explored and discussed with staff by calling, toll-free, 1-866-680-0006 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Through discussion to gain an understanding of their needs and interests, CONNECTIONS staff will identify current programs and services that most closely match the need. Staff, in doing so, will provide a brief description of the program or services for which the person may qualify.
The directory can also be accessed through the website: www.agr.gov.sk.ca/connections. Internet service is also available through the public library system.
The federal government offers words of caution to farmers who may be invited to buy information about government programs and services. “There's no need to pay for information that's freely available,” says Ellen Funk, a spokesperson for farm financial programs at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Winnipeg offices.
"We've received calls here from farmers and farm organizations, who are concerned because there are a number of private sector companies that are soliciting farmers and inviting them to pay money to get information on government programs and services," Funk said. "We're concerned about that because all of that information is available for free. Farmers don't have to pay money to get information on government programs -federal or provincial - or to apply for programs.
“So, we want to get the message out to producers: beware of websites and mailings and other promotional items that ask you to pay money to get information on farm support programs or other programs available for farmers, because all of that information is available to you, for free, from federal and provincial offices.”
Funk says a good clearinghouse for information is the federal government's toll-free information line, 1-800-O Canada (1-800-622-6232), or the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website at www.agr.gc.ca.
Addresses of federal government programs and services are available on the Government of Canada website.
For more information on Saskatchewan services, call CONNECTIONS toll-free at 1-866-680-0006.
For more information, contact:
Ken Imhoff
Farm Stress Line
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-5196
Ellen Funk
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(204) 984-5751
Responding to Changing Customer Habits with Beef
source: Farm and Food Report
It is surprising how much changes in lifestyles can affect consumer habits, and ultimately the value of various agricultural products. Take the beef sector.
A study, conducted with the help of SAFRR’s Beef Development Fund and producers, has recently taken a fresh look at value-added beef development in response to market trends. Phyllis Shand is a researcher at the College of Agriculture’s Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science at the University of Saskatchewan.
“In the early 1990s, we were witnessing a change in the value of various cuts in the beef carcass,” Shand explains. “While cuts from the loin region seemed to be increasing in value, the front and hip of the carcass became perceived as less consumer-friendly. Consequently, their values decreased.”
Shand attributes this to consumers leading busier lives and their need for quick and simple meal options. Most consumers judge the quality and overall acceptability of beef products based on tenderness, which has been identified as the single most important palatability factor affecting consumer satisfaction with beef.
“Although this may not be true of Saskatchewan in general, in larger urban centres, the food preparation knowledge around cuts that are perceived as less tender is being lost,” says Shand. “Evidence of that can be found in the decreasing popularity of traditional stewed dishes or pot roasts. People just don’t have the time to prepare them, and they will go for the more simple solutions: grilled steaks, roasts and ground beef — of which we seem to have an insatiable need.”
About half of the beef that makes it to market currently ends up as ground beef. While this market segment should not be neglected, exploring further avenues to respond to changing consumer needs is well worthy of study, indicates Shand. “We aim to keep beef competitive by finding new ways to process underutilized and undervalued parts.”
Because Shand and her colleagues had a background in meat processing — particularly in pork — they felt well equipped to start looking at new options. It turned out it was not as simple as that.
“We realized that we couldn’t simply take processing methods that worked in pork and apply them to beef,” Shand says. “We learned that we have to develop species-specific processes. Beef muscle implies different processing challenges because of its characteristics — each cut has its own. The chuck and the round each have unique features that we need to exploit.”
The findings from various studies conducted under this project suggest that marination by injection offers great potential in improving the palatability of lesser value cuts of meat. Mechanical treatment of meat tissue, including blade tenderization or tumbling, can also greatly enhance tenderness of tougher cuts such as round muscles. During tumbling, meat is rotated in large drums to disrupt the muscle fiber structure and to aid in marinade incorporation.
In addition, results suggest that moisture enhancement of lesser value cuts — followed by an appropriate cooking regime — offers a new means of ensuring consistently tender products.
The preservation of appearance and quality is essential during the distribution and merchandising of perishable products such as meat, so Shand’s research group has also looked at various packaging methods for fresh meats. After all, visual appearance is the only criterion consumers have at the point of purchase when selecting meat cuts. The way the product looks will influence consumers’ decisions, and technology that enhances this is valuable to the industry.
The good news is that the Saskatchewan Beef Development Fund approved funding for an additional five years of support for this research program. Shand is beaming at the significance of this.
“It means we will continue to have the infrastructure in place to continue our value-added beef research and to assist the industry in any expansion of beef processing activity taking place in the province — nothing less.”
For more information, contact:
Phyllis Shand
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8842
It is surprising how much changes in lifestyles can affect consumer habits, and ultimately the value of various agricultural products. Take the beef sector.
A study, conducted with the help of SAFRR’s Beef Development Fund and producers, has recently taken a fresh look at value-added beef development in response to market trends. Phyllis Shand is a researcher at the College of Agriculture’s Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science at the University of Saskatchewan.
“In the early 1990s, we were witnessing a change in the value of various cuts in the beef carcass,” Shand explains. “While cuts from the loin region seemed to be increasing in value, the front and hip of the carcass became perceived as less consumer-friendly. Consequently, their values decreased.”
Shand attributes this to consumers leading busier lives and their need for quick and simple meal options. Most consumers judge the quality and overall acceptability of beef products based on tenderness, which has been identified as the single most important palatability factor affecting consumer satisfaction with beef.
“Although this may not be true of Saskatchewan in general, in larger urban centres, the food preparation knowledge around cuts that are perceived as less tender is being lost,” says Shand. “Evidence of that can be found in the decreasing popularity of traditional stewed dishes or pot roasts. People just don’t have the time to prepare them, and they will go for the more simple solutions: grilled steaks, roasts and ground beef — of which we seem to have an insatiable need.”
About half of the beef that makes it to market currently ends up as ground beef. While this market segment should not be neglected, exploring further avenues to respond to changing consumer needs is well worthy of study, indicates Shand. “We aim to keep beef competitive by finding new ways to process underutilized and undervalued parts.”
Because Shand and her colleagues had a background in meat processing — particularly in pork — they felt well equipped to start looking at new options. It turned out it was not as simple as that.
“We realized that we couldn’t simply take processing methods that worked in pork and apply them to beef,” Shand says. “We learned that we have to develop species-specific processes. Beef muscle implies different processing challenges because of its characteristics — each cut has its own. The chuck and the round each have unique features that we need to exploit.”
The findings from various studies conducted under this project suggest that marination by injection offers great potential in improving the palatability of lesser value cuts of meat. Mechanical treatment of meat tissue, including blade tenderization or tumbling, can also greatly enhance tenderness of tougher cuts such as round muscles. During tumbling, meat is rotated in large drums to disrupt the muscle fiber structure and to aid in marinade incorporation.
In addition, results suggest that moisture enhancement of lesser value cuts — followed by an appropriate cooking regime — offers a new means of ensuring consistently tender products.
The preservation of appearance and quality is essential during the distribution and merchandising of perishable products such as meat, so Shand’s research group has also looked at various packaging methods for fresh meats. After all, visual appearance is the only criterion consumers have at the point of purchase when selecting meat cuts. The way the product looks will influence consumers’ decisions, and technology that enhances this is valuable to the industry.
The good news is that the Saskatchewan Beef Development Fund approved funding for an additional five years of support for this research program. Shand is beaming at the significance of this.
“It means we will continue to have the infrastructure in place to continue our value-added beef research and to assist the industry in any expansion of beef processing activity taking place in the province — nothing less.”
For more information, contact:
Phyllis Shand
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8842
Avoid Furarium Wilt Through Variety Selection
source: Farm and Food Report
AVOID FUSARIUM WILT THROUGH CANOLA VARIETY SELECTION
Canola growers would be well advised this spring to ensure the variety of canola they plan on seeding is resistant to Fusarium wilt, according to SAFRR Integrated Cropping Management Specialist Dale Risula.
“Some producers have experienced some major losses during the last couple of years — as much as 100 per cent in some cases,” says Risula. “The disease was first noticed in northern regions of the Peace River area in Alberta in 1999. Since then, Fusarium wilt has been found sporadically in the canola production regions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well.”
Fusarium wilt infects plants through the roots and plugs their vascular system, limiting the flow of water and nutrients up the stem and leading to stem discoloration. If severely infected, plant death will occur. Often, the symptoms are observed on only one side of the plant, or only affect a few branches.
“One of the challenges,” explains Risula, “is that the symptoms are similar to those of drought stress, which makes it difficult to identify. Plants may be stunted, discoloured and exhibit poor seed set. Fusarium wilt causes a discolouration of the stem. It is often seen as purple, grey or brown streaks starting from the foot region and moving up the plant.”
One of the ways to determine if it is Fusarium wilt is to scrape or cut away the epidermis to look for dark streaks in the vascular tissue running up and down the stem. Often, the infected plants will die prematurely and yield can be greatly reduced.
Fusarium wilt can be differentiated from other canola diseases because roots of affected plants will remain intact, unlike in a case of root rot. There will be no cankers on the stem base or lodging as with blackleg, nor bleaching and shredding of the stems, as with sclerotinia rot.
“The only way to control Fusarium wilt infestations at this point is through disease resistance,” says Risula. “There are no registered fungicides to deal with the problem. Fortunately, variety selection — combined with an appropriate crop rotation program — is extremely effective. The beauty of it is that selection is that effective.”
There is differentiation between varieties of Argentine canola (Brassica napus), which means that breeders will continue to screen this susceptibility out of future varieties.
Canola growers are advised again to check if the variety they choose is resistant to Fusarium wilt before seeding.
For more information on Fusarium wilt, please consult the information sheet on the disease prepared recently by SAFRR.
For more information, contact:
Dale Risula
Agriculture Knowledge Centre
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
1-866-457-2377
AVOID FUSARIUM WILT THROUGH CANOLA VARIETY SELECTION
Canola growers would be well advised this spring to ensure the variety of canola they plan on seeding is resistant to Fusarium wilt, according to SAFRR Integrated Cropping Management Specialist Dale Risula.
“Some producers have experienced some major losses during the last couple of years — as much as 100 per cent in some cases,” says Risula. “The disease was first noticed in northern regions of the Peace River area in Alberta in 1999. Since then, Fusarium wilt has been found sporadically in the canola production regions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well.”
Fusarium wilt infects plants through the roots and plugs their vascular system, limiting the flow of water and nutrients up the stem and leading to stem discoloration. If severely infected, plant death will occur. Often, the symptoms are observed on only one side of the plant, or only affect a few branches.
“One of the challenges,” explains Risula, “is that the symptoms are similar to those of drought stress, which makes it difficult to identify. Plants may be stunted, discoloured and exhibit poor seed set. Fusarium wilt causes a discolouration of the stem. It is often seen as purple, grey or brown streaks starting from the foot region and moving up the plant.”
One of the ways to determine if it is Fusarium wilt is to scrape or cut away the epidermis to look for dark streaks in the vascular tissue running up and down the stem. Often, the infected plants will die prematurely and yield can be greatly reduced.
Fusarium wilt can be differentiated from other canola diseases because roots of affected plants will remain intact, unlike in a case of root rot. There will be no cankers on the stem base or lodging as with blackleg, nor bleaching and shredding of the stems, as with sclerotinia rot.
“The only way to control Fusarium wilt infestations at this point is through disease resistance,” says Risula. “There are no registered fungicides to deal with the problem. Fortunately, variety selection — combined with an appropriate crop rotation program — is extremely effective. The beauty of it is that selection is that effective.”
There is differentiation between varieties of Argentine canola (Brassica napus), which means that breeders will continue to screen this susceptibility out of future varieties.
Canola growers are advised again to check if the variety they choose is resistant to Fusarium wilt before seeding.
For more information on Fusarium wilt, please consult the information sheet on the disease prepared recently by SAFRR.
For more information, contact:
Dale Risula
Agriculture Knowledge Centre
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
1-866-457-2377
SCCA Eyes Profits Through Soil Management Practices
source: Farm and Food Report
The 2005 edition of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association’s Direct Seeding Conference takes place in Saskatoon on February 15th and 16th.
Organizers have picked “Management Practices for the Future” as this year’s theme, because of the increasing popularity of direct seeding, according to Edgar Hammermeister, one SSCA’s Directors.
“Fifty per cent of acres seeded in Saskatchewan are direct seeded now,” says Hammermeister. “As a producer, I personally find that if you can manage your soil properly and even out the productivity of a field so that it holds moisture longer — and you become less dependent on the timing of a rain — you have a wider window of a few extra days. The long-term direct seeders are finding that their long-term yield averages are more stabilized. We all learn lessons and they indicate a need to address soil management with a view to the future.”
Hammermeister and his colleagues have whipped up a full program that features sessions about fertility effects on crop and weed competition, weed control strategies, and crop rotations. Some sessions address direct seeding issues and opportunities for advanced practitioners, as well as the benefits of adopting a systems approach to low input crop production. Other sessions target novice direct seeders’ needs.
There will be special emphasis this year on the forages and livestock angles in terms of direct seeding opportunities for forage crops, but also on rejuvenation/re-establishment of forage stands and rotational grazing practices.
“We will also feature a bear pit session which will be more of a producer-to-producer opportunity on topics like how to start direct seeding; integrated pest management; and how one controls weeds with crop rotations,” Hammermeister says. “Of course, we are always looking for ways to reduce pesticide inputs to address our insect challenges. Fertility management is also on the program, and something else: new developments on the carbon credits front.”
Hammermeister recognizes that carbon credits are more of a political issue, but it is one the SCCA has steadily been working on for eight years now, and on which producers are seeing some progress.
“We are getting a sense that decision-makers are starting to see where agriculture can fit in meeting Canada’s Kyoto commitments. Farmers own the carbon credits. Canada has a huge commitment to Kyoto: 240,000,000 tons of emission reductions that it has to meet. If the farmers are treated fairly, they can provide at least 20 per cent, possibly a lot more of that solution. Direct seeding is the quickest way to increase carbon storage in the soil by increasing organic matter. So it is a fit through agronomy.”
In the meantime, Hammermeister points that the impact of direct seeding on the environment is already quite visible, especially during droughts.
“If you remember back in 1988, we had some serious dust storms. The land was moving. Now the drought we had a few years ago, we didn’t have any significant dust storms as a result. The land was staying put and that topsoil has a tremendous value. It is hard to put a monetary value on it — perhaps it is a priceless resource. When a farmer can maintain production by keeping the soil on his own place, it benefits anyone.”
The Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association is made up agricultural producers, but it welcomes anyone with an interest in direct seeding to its AGM and Conference. To find out more, or to register, visit: http://ssca.usask.ca/
For more information, contact:
Edgar Hammermeister, P.Ag.
Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association
(306) 489-2281
The 2005 edition of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association’s Direct Seeding Conference takes place in Saskatoon on February 15th and 16th.
Organizers have picked “Management Practices for the Future” as this year’s theme, because of the increasing popularity of direct seeding, according to Edgar Hammermeister, one SSCA’s Directors.
“Fifty per cent of acres seeded in Saskatchewan are direct seeded now,” says Hammermeister. “As a producer, I personally find that if you can manage your soil properly and even out the productivity of a field so that it holds moisture longer — and you become less dependent on the timing of a rain — you have a wider window of a few extra days. The long-term direct seeders are finding that their long-term yield averages are more stabilized. We all learn lessons and they indicate a need to address soil management with a view to the future.”
Hammermeister and his colleagues have whipped up a full program that features sessions about fertility effects on crop and weed competition, weed control strategies, and crop rotations. Some sessions address direct seeding issues and opportunities for advanced practitioners, as well as the benefits of adopting a systems approach to low input crop production. Other sessions target novice direct seeders’ needs.
There will be special emphasis this year on the forages and livestock angles in terms of direct seeding opportunities for forage crops, but also on rejuvenation/re-establishment of forage stands and rotational grazing practices.
“We will also feature a bear pit session which will be more of a producer-to-producer opportunity on topics like how to start direct seeding; integrated pest management; and how one controls weeds with crop rotations,” Hammermeister says. “Of course, we are always looking for ways to reduce pesticide inputs to address our insect challenges. Fertility management is also on the program, and something else: new developments on the carbon credits front.”
Hammermeister recognizes that carbon credits are more of a political issue, but it is one the SCCA has steadily been working on for eight years now, and on which producers are seeing some progress.
“We are getting a sense that decision-makers are starting to see where agriculture can fit in meeting Canada’s Kyoto commitments. Farmers own the carbon credits. Canada has a huge commitment to Kyoto: 240,000,000 tons of emission reductions that it has to meet. If the farmers are treated fairly, they can provide at least 20 per cent, possibly a lot more of that solution. Direct seeding is the quickest way to increase carbon storage in the soil by increasing organic matter. So it is a fit through agronomy.”
In the meantime, Hammermeister points that the impact of direct seeding on the environment is already quite visible, especially during droughts.
“If you remember back in 1988, we had some serious dust storms. The land was moving. Now the drought we had a few years ago, we didn’t have any significant dust storms as a result. The land was staying put and that topsoil has a tremendous value. It is hard to put a monetary value on it — perhaps it is a priceless resource. When a farmer can maintain production by keeping the soil on his own place, it benefits anyone.”
The Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association is made up agricultural producers, but it welcomes anyone with an interest in direct seeding to its AGM and Conference. To find out more, or to register, visit: http://ssca.usask.ca/
For more information, contact:
Edgar Hammermeister, P.Ag.
Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association
(306) 489-2281
Friday, February 11, 2005
Market Prospects is Back on CTV's Farmgate
source: Farm and Food Report
Market Prospects marks its 20th anniversary this winter with a 16-week run on CTV’s weekly Farmgate show.
The series continues its tradition of inviting experts from Saskatchewan and further afield to provide leading edge analysis on the market situation and outlook for major prairie crops and livestock. It also examines a variety of related agricultural production and trade issues.
Market Prospects kicked off in December 2004 with two livestock shows. Farmgate host Bob Simpson interviewed Michel Tremblay, SAFRR Provincial Forage Crop Specialist, on the feed situation and Brad Wildeman of Pound-Maker Agventures in Lanigan on current issues in the prairie beef sector. As with most Market Prospects shows, the audio and video of these interviews and the text version of the questions can be accessed following the original broadcast at http://marketprospects.usask.ca/.
The series resumed in January with SAFFR's own grain research economist, Glenn Payne, speaking on world grain and oilseed supplies and market conditions. In the next show, Dr. Andrew Schmitz of the University of Florida examined the nature of U.S. trade actions (and the resulting countervail duties). Dr. Schmitz is an internationally recognized agricultural economist who still farms in his home province of Saskatchewan.
The annual appearance of Dr. Keith Collins, Chief Economist of the United States Department of Agriculture, is considered a highlight of the Market Prospects series. Dr. Collins, who is known to give candid interviews, provides the U.S. perspective on agricultural trade and markets in two interviews. On February 5, he offers the U.S. view on the wheat and oilseed outlook.
On February 12, Dave Walker of Tisdale's Walker Seeds addresses the market situation and outlook for peas, lentils and chickpeas. Steve Gadient of Winnipeg's Humboldt Seeds continues the emphasis on specialty crops on February 19, speaking on mustard, canary seed and spices. Further topic and speaker information can be found on the web site.
One might think that, after 20 years of production, the annual series might be growing old and a bit tired. However, the show has re-invented itself several times over the years to remain relevant and accessible. It has gone from a one-day satellite show with live audiences in a small number of Saskatchewan centres, to a stand-alone special series on network television, to its current placement as a 10-minute segment on Farmgate.
More than 75,000 viewers watch the show each week in the province, and it is also available across Canada on satellite television. The adoption of technology such as the internet site and the production of DVDs has further expanded the availability of the information.
Central to the Market Prospects programming over the years has been the objective of informing farmers about changing production and market conditions that will influence production levels and prices of the major Saskatchewan crops in the coming year. The goal has been to deliver timely commodity market and outlook information prior to spring planting.
Richard Wharton is SAFRR's Production Economics Specialist. "This kind of information is very critical," he says. "With margins being very thin, producers need to focus on what the market demands. Traditionally, agricultural producers have put more emphasis on production than marketing, which tends to be left to specialized organizations. Yet, it is central to what producers do. They need to be aware of market fluctuation, especially now, as they prepare for a new season of activities. They must familiarize themselves with developments on issues of price, cash flow and profitability. The Market Prospect interviews allow them to do just that."
In recent years, an expanded educational mandate has been adopted for the series. A number of shows each year look at a wider range of production, market and trade issues that affect prairie farmers. This year, the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development in Saskatchewan (CARDS) Program (funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) has provided financial support for a series of eight interviews within the Market Prospects 2005 programming focussing on agricultural trade. The series, which explores BSE, Canada/U.S. trade, product traceability and the WTO, is titled Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Prairie Agriculture.
Market Prospects 2005 is co-ordinated by the Department of Agricultural Economics of the University of Saskatchewan, in co-operation with SAFRR and CTV. A broad base of financial support comes from CARDS, the Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan (AIMS), the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and the Cyril Capling Trust Fund of the College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan.
Market Prospects continues on Farmgate on Saturdays until April 16. There is something for all prairie farmers and anyone else interested in agriculture in these 16 themed interviews.
For more information, contact:
Richard Wharton
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
Agriculture Knowledge Centre
1-866-457-2377
Market Prospects marks its 20th anniversary this winter with a 16-week run on CTV’s weekly Farmgate show.
The series continues its tradition of inviting experts from Saskatchewan and further afield to provide leading edge analysis on the market situation and outlook for major prairie crops and livestock. It also examines a variety of related agricultural production and trade issues.
Market Prospects kicked off in December 2004 with two livestock shows. Farmgate host Bob Simpson interviewed Michel Tremblay, SAFRR Provincial Forage Crop Specialist, on the feed situation and Brad Wildeman of Pound-Maker Agventures in Lanigan on current issues in the prairie beef sector. As with most Market Prospects shows, the audio and video of these interviews and the text version of the questions can be accessed following the original broadcast at http://marketprospects.usask.ca/.
The series resumed in January with SAFFR's own grain research economist, Glenn Payne, speaking on world grain and oilseed supplies and market conditions. In the next show, Dr. Andrew Schmitz of the University of Florida examined the nature of U.S. trade actions (and the resulting countervail duties). Dr. Schmitz is an internationally recognized agricultural economist who still farms in his home province of Saskatchewan.
The annual appearance of Dr. Keith Collins, Chief Economist of the United States Department of Agriculture, is considered a highlight of the Market Prospects series. Dr. Collins, who is known to give candid interviews, provides the U.S. perspective on agricultural trade and markets in two interviews. On February 5, he offers the U.S. view on the wheat and oilseed outlook.
On February 12, Dave Walker of Tisdale's Walker Seeds addresses the market situation and outlook for peas, lentils and chickpeas. Steve Gadient of Winnipeg's Humboldt Seeds continues the emphasis on specialty crops on February 19, speaking on mustard, canary seed and spices. Further topic and speaker information can be found on the web site.
One might think that, after 20 years of production, the annual series might be growing old and a bit tired. However, the show has re-invented itself several times over the years to remain relevant and accessible. It has gone from a one-day satellite show with live audiences in a small number of Saskatchewan centres, to a stand-alone special series on network television, to its current placement as a 10-minute segment on Farmgate.
More than 75,000 viewers watch the show each week in the province, and it is also available across Canada on satellite television. The adoption of technology such as the internet site and the production of DVDs has further expanded the availability of the information.
Central to the Market Prospects programming over the years has been the objective of informing farmers about changing production and market conditions that will influence production levels and prices of the major Saskatchewan crops in the coming year. The goal has been to deliver timely commodity market and outlook information prior to spring planting.
Richard Wharton is SAFRR's Production Economics Specialist. "This kind of information is very critical," he says. "With margins being very thin, producers need to focus on what the market demands. Traditionally, agricultural producers have put more emphasis on production than marketing, which tends to be left to specialized organizations. Yet, it is central to what producers do. They need to be aware of market fluctuation, especially now, as they prepare for a new season of activities. They must familiarize themselves with developments on issues of price, cash flow and profitability. The Market Prospect interviews allow them to do just that."
In recent years, an expanded educational mandate has been adopted for the series. A number of shows each year look at a wider range of production, market and trade issues that affect prairie farmers. This year, the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development in Saskatchewan (CARDS) Program (funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) has provided financial support for a series of eight interviews within the Market Prospects 2005 programming focussing on agricultural trade. The series, which explores BSE, Canada/U.S. trade, product traceability and the WTO, is titled Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Prairie Agriculture.
Market Prospects 2005 is co-ordinated by the Department of Agricultural Economics of the University of Saskatchewan, in co-operation with SAFRR and CTV. A broad base of financial support comes from CARDS, the Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan (AIMS), the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and the Cyril Capling Trust Fund of the College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan.
Market Prospects continues on Farmgate on Saturdays until April 16. There is something for all prairie farmers and anyone else interested in agriculture in these 16 themed interviews.
For more information, contact:
Richard Wharton
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
Agriculture Knowledge Centre
1-866-457-2377
Winter Cereals Canada Looks at Favourable Future
source: Farm and Food Report
When winter cereal producers meet in Saskatoon on February 14, there will certainly be talk of the drop in Saskatchewan acres of winter wheat, from close to 230,000 acres in 2003 to little more than 147,000 acres last year because of the weather.
But that does not give an accurate picture of how the industry is doing, according to Executive Manager of Winter Cereals Canada, Bob Linnell.
“Winter wheat production has been around 700,000 acres, spread across three prairie provinces; and, on the whole over the last six years or so, there has been a steady increase of 10 to 18 per cent in acreage. We see that as a positive sign. We consistently get between 60 and 100 growers at the meeting. That may not seem like a lot, but they are the ones looking for new avenues to further develop their farm.”
According to Linnell, winter wheat producers tend to have higher acreages these days, so they tend to look at spreading out their workload. Winter wheat allows them to do that.
“They are able to seed in the fall, roughly at the time they are starting to harvest their spring seeded crops. The next year, the winter wheat is harvested actually about a month ahead of any spring-seeded crop. They have a chance to do two things. They can get a crop off and spend more time adequately harvesting their fall-seeded crops that year. It also has an effect on bin storage. If you get winter wheat in a bin a month ahead of your spring seeded harvested crop, you can often empty it out and re-use that bin. In other words, you are doing two turns on that individual bin. It beats the market, as well.”
This year, Winter Cereals Canada has invited speakers who can help growers achieve higher returns on their investment and decrease input costs.
“Because the fertilizer is applied sometime later in the springtime — after the cereal is already growing the fall before — there have always been questions about how to properly apply the fertilizer that is going into the ground,” Linnell says. “Dr. Byron Irvine of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Brandon will talk about fertilizing winter wheat for maximum production — and Manitoba has been somewhat more successful in producing higher yields than we have, so he’ll share some of his secrets.”
As far as markets go, there may be a number of options for winter wheat with hog and cattle feeders once current supplies diminish, says Linnell.
“We see growth in the area of feeding hogs and livestock — hogs particularly, because it is a high energy crop and they can adjust the energy on other things. Hog feeders and hog feeding mills really like the product. Cattle feeders buy in bulk because of the quantity they need: so many tons, what is your best price per ton? And often hog feeders will contract winter wheat producers because they want a continuous feed stock supply.”
Linnell also has his eyes on ethanol production.
“Winter wheat is the preferred feed stock for ethanol production because of the productive capacity of it. The key right now is to produce bushels, and if you can do that at a lower cost of inputs, that’s the name of the game. We see that as a difficult thing to adjust to sometimes.”
At the end of the presentations, Winter Cereals Canada promises a productive Annual Meeting later in the afternoon, followed by a bear pit session and a trade show held jointly with the Direct Seeding Conference of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association.
The Winter Cereals Canada Annual Meeting is open to media and the public. To register, contact Bob Linnell at (306) 848-1252.
For more information, contact:
Bob Linnell
Winter Cereals Canada
(306) 848-1252
When winter cereal producers meet in Saskatoon on February 14, there will certainly be talk of the drop in Saskatchewan acres of winter wheat, from close to 230,000 acres in 2003 to little more than 147,000 acres last year because of the weather.
But that does not give an accurate picture of how the industry is doing, according to Executive Manager of Winter Cereals Canada, Bob Linnell.
“Winter wheat production has been around 700,000 acres, spread across three prairie provinces; and, on the whole over the last six years or so, there has been a steady increase of 10 to 18 per cent in acreage. We see that as a positive sign. We consistently get between 60 and 100 growers at the meeting. That may not seem like a lot, but they are the ones looking for new avenues to further develop their farm.”
According to Linnell, winter wheat producers tend to have higher acreages these days, so they tend to look at spreading out their workload. Winter wheat allows them to do that.
“They are able to seed in the fall, roughly at the time they are starting to harvest their spring seeded crops. The next year, the winter wheat is harvested actually about a month ahead of any spring-seeded crop. They have a chance to do two things. They can get a crop off and spend more time adequately harvesting their fall-seeded crops that year. It also has an effect on bin storage. If you get winter wheat in a bin a month ahead of your spring seeded harvested crop, you can often empty it out and re-use that bin. In other words, you are doing two turns on that individual bin. It beats the market, as well.”
This year, Winter Cereals Canada has invited speakers who can help growers achieve higher returns on their investment and decrease input costs.
“Because the fertilizer is applied sometime later in the springtime — after the cereal is already growing the fall before — there have always been questions about how to properly apply the fertilizer that is going into the ground,” Linnell says. “Dr. Byron Irvine of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Brandon will talk about fertilizing winter wheat for maximum production — and Manitoba has been somewhat more successful in producing higher yields than we have, so he’ll share some of his secrets.”
As far as markets go, there may be a number of options for winter wheat with hog and cattle feeders once current supplies diminish, says Linnell.
“We see growth in the area of feeding hogs and livestock — hogs particularly, because it is a high energy crop and they can adjust the energy on other things. Hog feeders and hog feeding mills really like the product. Cattle feeders buy in bulk because of the quantity they need: so many tons, what is your best price per ton? And often hog feeders will contract winter wheat producers because they want a continuous feed stock supply.”
Linnell also has his eyes on ethanol production.
“Winter wheat is the preferred feed stock for ethanol production because of the productive capacity of it. The key right now is to produce bushels, and if you can do that at a lower cost of inputs, that’s the name of the game. We see that as a difficult thing to adjust to sometimes.”
At the end of the presentations, Winter Cereals Canada promises a productive Annual Meeting later in the afternoon, followed by a bear pit session and a trade show held jointly with the Direct Seeding Conference of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association.
The Winter Cereals Canada Annual Meeting is open to media and the public. To register, contact Bob Linnell at (306) 848-1252.
For more information, contact:
Bob Linnell
Winter Cereals Canada
(306) 848-1252
New Canaryseed Association Considers Check-Off
source: Farm and Food Report
The new Canaryseed Association of Canada is pondering the need to implement a levy, and is looking for input from growers.
Ray McVicar is helping the new organization develop, a task he willingly took on and part of his responsibilities as the Provincial Specialist for special crops at Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization.
“Currently, canaryseed is used only as birdfeed, either for wild birds or caged birds, so it is a very finite market,” McVicar says. “The demand is very stable. With Saskatchewan being the largest producer and exporter of this crop in the world, if we have a drought or low production, the price goes up, but if we have good production and oversupply, the price goes down. We don’t just want to grow more canaryseed: we would like to expand markets and do some research on plant breeding and agronomy.”
Canaryseed is almost an undomesticated crop. There are only five varieties registered, two of which were registered last year. There has not been a lot of research carried out on canaryseed: in fact, it has been almost ignored. The only plant-breeding program is in Saskatoon. It has always been funded on a small scale because the plant breeder was forward-thinking enough to add canaryseed into his workplan and applied for funding to run the project.
There are an estimated 1,200 canaryseed farmers in Saskatchewan— and around 70 members in the producers’ association. Obviously, running a research program on membership fees alone is not possible. By putting aside a small amount of money when farmers sell the product, the levy would, in effect, generate interest in the crop — “it would give more power to the grower,” according to McVicar.
Rumour has it there are three box cars of canaryseed used in New York City each day, shipped out of Saskatchewan. It is sent to the large urban centres of the world. Big buyers are New York City, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Western Europe— locations with big urban centres where caged birds are popular pets.
Canaryseed is about a $45-75 million a year crop in terms of exports for Saskatchewan. It tends to be concentrated in two main areas of the province — the West-Central area, encompassing about 40 per cent of the production, and the Regina Plain.
The Annual General Meeting takes place in Eston on the afternoon of February 10. There will be a speaker to talk about marketing, markets and prices, and a speaker on canaryseed agronomy test plots in the area last year. The plant breeder from Saskatoon will come as well to elaborate on the type of research that is needed and the level of funding that will be needed to carry it out.
This check-off issue will figure prominently on the AGM agenda. The Board will look for guidance, and surely it will manifest itself, for “Eston is the heart of canaryseed country, and that’s why the AGM will be held there,” quips McVicar.
For more information, contact:
Ray McVicar
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-4665
The new Canaryseed Association of Canada is pondering the need to implement a levy, and is looking for input from growers.
Ray McVicar is helping the new organization develop, a task he willingly took on and part of his responsibilities as the Provincial Specialist for special crops at Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization.
“Currently, canaryseed is used only as birdfeed, either for wild birds or caged birds, so it is a very finite market,” McVicar says. “The demand is very stable. With Saskatchewan being the largest producer and exporter of this crop in the world, if we have a drought or low production, the price goes up, but if we have good production and oversupply, the price goes down. We don’t just want to grow more canaryseed: we would like to expand markets and do some research on plant breeding and agronomy.”
Canaryseed is almost an undomesticated crop. There are only five varieties registered, two of which were registered last year. There has not been a lot of research carried out on canaryseed: in fact, it has been almost ignored. The only plant-breeding program is in Saskatoon. It has always been funded on a small scale because the plant breeder was forward-thinking enough to add canaryseed into his workplan and applied for funding to run the project.
There are an estimated 1,200 canaryseed farmers in Saskatchewan— and around 70 members in the producers’ association. Obviously, running a research program on membership fees alone is not possible. By putting aside a small amount of money when farmers sell the product, the levy would, in effect, generate interest in the crop — “it would give more power to the grower,” according to McVicar.
Rumour has it there are three box cars of canaryseed used in New York City each day, shipped out of Saskatchewan. It is sent to the large urban centres of the world. Big buyers are New York City, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Western Europe— locations with big urban centres where caged birds are popular pets.
Canaryseed is about a $45-75 million a year crop in terms of exports for Saskatchewan. It tends to be concentrated in two main areas of the province — the West-Central area, encompassing about 40 per cent of the production, and the Regina Plain.
The Annual General Meeting takes place in Eston on the afternoon of February 10. There will be a speaker to talk about marketing, markets and prices, and a speaker on canaryseed agronomy test plots in the area last year. The plant breeder from Saskatoon will come as well to elaborate on the type of research that is needed and the level of funding that will be needed to carry it out.
This check-off issue will figure prominently on the AGM agenda. The Board will look for guidance, and surely it will manifest itself, for “Eston is the heart of canaryseed country, and that’s why the AGM will be held there,” quips McVicar.
For more information, contact:
Ray McVicar
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-4665
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